Save Jeju Now
No War Base on the Island of Peace
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‘No verification on cruise, no budget,’ ‘no function for operational water area,’ National Assembly man claims
Image source: Jeju Sori, Oct. 18, 2012 (translated) In the National Assembly Inspection on the navy headquarter on Oct. 18, Kim Jae-Yoon (Democratic United Party, Seogwipo City), member of the Defense Committee of the National Assembly raised primarily on two issues. While the 1st issue has been constantly raised by many observers, the 2nd is something new and important. Anyway, here is the summary based on the Jeju Domin Ilbo, Oct. 18.
1. Regarding the harbor and bay layout of the Jeju naval base:
‘If simulation verification on the control of 150,000 ton cruise is not correctly carried out, all the budgets related to the Jeju naval base project for next year should be cut.’
Kim pointed out that:
(1) Because of the reduced size of turning basin, cruise navigation is dangerous.
(2) Because of sea route change, dredging at the bottom of sea is inevitable, which raises concern on the intrusion on the ecology system protection area.
(3) Because of arbitrary standard on wave height, there is the risk of accidents during ships’ mooring or unloading.
(4) Because of no design on emergency exit that should be prepared, according to the layout standard on the defense/ military facilities, for the cases when vessel is being attacked or running aground so the port entry is blockaded, it is difficult for vessels to move out if emergency occurs.
He claimed that:
Even though the flaws on the harbor and bay layout of the Jeju Civilian-Military Complex for Tour Beauty (* In fact, a pure military base) are very serious, the navy has attempted to hide those with false explanations. It should be verified through objective and fair simulation whether turning basin and sea route have been designed according to the legal standard and the base plan is appropriate. The Government should accept the simulation cases demanded by the Jeju Island government (* which, itself, does not trust simulations by the central government but constantly makes false propaganda on the dual complex port). And the whole budget on the naval base project should be cut for the next year, unless simulation verification, the core of 5 items recommended to the Government by the National assembly is properly carried out.
2. Regarding the government assertion on sea security
‘The base would take little role in the protection on the southern sea area and maritime traffic route. The navy cause of [so-called ‘security’] for building the naval base is only appearance.’
Kim pointed out that:
While the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone( KADIZ) is set close to the Jeju island, the Japanese Air Defense Identification Zone (JADIZ) is set below the south sea of the Jeju and the Ieodo (* a submerged rock, not the Island) in the south of the Marado(the southernmost Island in Korea) also belongs to the JADIZ.
Therefore in case the ROK navy mooring in the Jeju naval base and patrolling in the southern sea area of the Jeju, carries out operations with helicopters or aircraft embarked on vessels within the ADIZ, it should make a prior consultation with Japan and its activities could be limited by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force(JMSDF).
Therefore Kim emphasized that:
‘Even though the navy asserts on the expansion of its influential power in the southern sea area through the building of the Jeju naval base, in reality, it is questionable to which points it can assert on its operation scope in the southern sea area. Then the role of the naval base as an outpost that guards the southern sea area is very limited. The cause to enforce the base project with tremendous budget and social costs then goes down.’
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Reference
http://www.jejudomin.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=35945
“크루즈선 안전성 검증 안되면 예산 전액삭감”
김재윤 의원, 국감서 해군기지 설계 오류 집중 추궁
2012.10.18
http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=121434
“제주해군기지, 남방해역 보호? 매우 제한적”
2012.10.18
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Grand March for Life and Peace 2012: Gangjeong to Seoul
The motto “We are the Sky” comes from the motto of the Sky Act, a joint solidarity campaign of three struggles in Korea: (S)Ssang Yong autoworkers layoff struggle, (K)Gureombi Rock/anti-Gangjeong naval base struggle, and the (Y)Yongsan Tradegy struggle. More info coming soon!
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Navy report: Jeju Naval Base to Accommodate US Nuclear Submarine
A US nuclear-powered SSN-776 submarine, at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Navy report: Jeju naval base to accommodate US nuclear submarine
Recently acquired documents raise questions about Gangjeong Village as a joint civil-military harbor
By Ha Eo-young, staff reporter
A Navy report from 2009 states that the water depth for a naval base currently under construction on Jeju Island was designed to accommodate a US nuclear submarine.
This latest revelation comes on the heels of allegations that the base was designed to allow a US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to make port.
Document 06-520, titled “Basic Plan and Examination Request Basic Plan Report” was acquired from naval headquarters by Democratic United Party lawmaker Kim Kwang-jin. It states in its harbor facility requirement standards section that the “overall depth of the submarine dock was set at 12 meters at the request of the orderer.”
This design depth suggests the base was planned to accommodate the US nuclear-powered SSN-776 submarine, since a depth of 9.3 meters would be adequate for South Korean submarines. This means that the base was designed around a vessel that the South Korean Navy does not current possess, and has no plans to possess.
“The Ministry of National Defense said there were no demands from CNFK [the Commander of US Naval Forces Korea], but from this design it appears that the South Korean government took it upon itself to make [the harbor] big enough for a US warship that might never dock there, without even being asked to,” said Kim.
“If it is built this way, we can’t even guarantee that it will be a South Korean military base, let alone a civil harbor,” he added. The South Korean government previously said the base was being designed as a joint civil-military harbor.
“Suppose the US military comes to Jeju with a nuclear-power aircraft carrier,” Kim continued. “How can we reasonably guarantee that civilians can freely use it for ‘tourism’?”
This is not the first accusation that the Jeju base is being built to US military standards. Previously, observers pointed to phrasing about “water depth meeting the 15.2 m standards of CFNK” in facility construction specifications published by naval headquarters in 2010 as evidence that the base was being tailored to CFNK demands.
“The report was a pamphlet based on documents submitted by the company that performed the study,” said a Navy official. “The client in it is obviously the Navy.”
“The design is a preemptive step to allow all submarines above a certain size to make port, not just a US nuclear-powered submarine,” the official added.
Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]
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# Save Jeju Now adds….
Mr. Go Gwon-Il, chairman of the villagers’ Committee to Stop the Naval Base has done in-depth research about the issue on the submarines that may moor in the Jeju naval base. According to him, it is possible to station total 80 trident nuclear missiles in the coast, which is enough number to annihilate China.
According to his research, it is possible that total 4 submarines, including maximum two nuclear-propelled submarines that loads 24 numbers of 8,000km range nuclear missiles each and two nuclear submarines each that loads 16 nuclear missiles, and more than two multipurpose attack type submarines can be moored and equipped.
In detail,
The length of the submarine dock, 365m is enough for the simultaneous mooring of the US nuclear submarines of the Ohio(the biggest) and George Washington class loaded with ballistic missiles.
The dock for the mid-size ship/ submarine is for a combination of diverse US nuclear submarines. Submarines of attack type or ballistic missile submarines can be moored.
Among the US nuclear submarines, the submarine with the deepest draft is the Sea Wolf class, which is multipurpose attack ship and draft is 10.66m. That is why the water depth of 12m has been demanded for the submarine dock, by the Commander, US Navy Forces of Korea (CNFK).
For the photos and tables, see http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/49kU/2039
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Gangjeong Village Story: Monthly News from the Struggle | October Issue
In this month’s issue:Gangjeong and the Naval Base Issue stir up the IUCN’s WCC 2012, New U.S. Links to the Naval Base found, ROK Government ignores the UN on Gangjeong, Interviews with Prisoner Kim Bok-Chul and a WCC participant, Articles from several Veterans for Peace visitors to Gangjeong, and more!
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Struggle to Keep the Gates from Construction Trucks Continues at Night
Image: Cho Sung-Bong On Oct. 16, police roughed out people 12 times to the exhaustion of people who have kept the two gates from the endless construction trucks from early morning. It has usually been about 7 times. Many young activists got bruise and scratched wounds as the policewomen even use their nails. The navy is accelerating construction (destruction) from the anxiety that it may not get the construction budget for next year. The navy has been building caisson production area in the west part of the Gureombi Rock, for which and shipment site in the east part of the Gureombi Rock, it has blasted about 10 % of it this March and April.
Last year, the National Assembly has cut about 96% of about 130 billion won in proposed budget related to the Jeju naval base construction. Many problems including unreliable base design had been exposed through the National Assembly inspection last year. Instead, about 107 billion won budget unused in 2011 due to people’s protests was transferred to 2012 and the navy has been consuming that transferred budget for 2012. Still the navy could not even use half of that as of this October because of fierce struggles by the dedicated people who daily keep the construction gate from the construction trucks, from morning to late evening, sometimes, overnight.
As the end of this year is approaching amidst the National Assembly inspection (The National assembly inspection on the government offices related to the Jeju naval base project is from Oct. 5 to 24) and there will be a Presidential election in December, the navy and conservatives are anxious to finish their job as much as they can do. The growing criticism on the current Lee Myung Bak government is an another factor. The People here have been organizing the nationwide march from Oct. 4 to Nov. 3, which contributes to organize people’s will to change the government and to revoke the Jeju naval base project.
The Headline Jeju on Oct. 9 reported that about 200 billion won was appropriated to the ROK National Assembly in the 2013 budget for the construction cost related to the Jeju naval base concerned by the Ministry of National Defense and DAPA(Defense Acquisition Program Administration).
The cost includes about 108 billion won for the caisson production & deferment in the 1st work area and basic formation for the breakwaters; and 49 billion won for the caisson production & deferment in the 2nd work area and the basic formation of dock. It is also known that about 22 billion won was estimated for land construction.
However, people’s will to stop the Jeju naval base construction will be accomplished. One should not forget the people who daily keep the gates. They are the people who are saving us as well.
Please pressure the ROK National Assembly members to cut all budgets on the Jeju naval base project .( *The government says that the total cost for the Jeju navy base project is about 1.7 trillion won) For example, ENGLISH@ASSEMBLY.GO.KR or Moon Jae-In, Permanent Advisor, Democratic United party, Presidential candidate: moonriver365@gmail.com.
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Reference
http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=161923
내년 제주해군기지 공사비 2000억원 편성…항만공사 본격화
국회 제출 예산서, 항만공사비 등 대거 편성
2012.10.09 11:57:38
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See also
http://savejejunow.org/daily-struggle-budget/
Daily struggle has delayed 28 billion won. Help to cut all the budgets on base! (Oct. 23)
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The National Police Agency reply to the UN was without consultation to the Jeju Police Agency
[Oct. 15] The National Police Agency replied to the UN human rights inquiry on oppression on Gangjeong without consultation to the Jeju Police Agency.
According to the National Assembly inspection resource material that Park Nam Choon (Democratic United party), a member of the Administrative Security Committee of the National assembly, has gotten from the Jeju Police Agency, the agency has not gotten any consultation from the National Police Agency regarding the reply letter to the UN human rights special rapporteurs’ joint inquiry on human rights violation in Gangjeong [on May 30.]
It means the National Agency has made the reply letter in the way of the arbitrary.
It was also exposed that the Jeju Police Agency has recognized on the existence of joint letter only through media and it has only become to know that there is the Gangjeong-related contents only by the preparation process on the National Assembly inspection at the end of September.
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Reference
http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=162350
“UN무시, 인권 위에 존재하는 경찰청은 소설가?”
‘UN인권이사회 강정 인권침해 질의서’ 경찰청 맘대로 작성
제주청은 허수아비, 공동서한 내용과 답변여부 전혀 몰라?”
2012.10.15 10:03:46
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Nearly 130,000 Mainland Police have been stationed in Gangjeong since August 2011
Original Korean Image: Yu Dong-Su, Voice of the People/English Version: Gangjeong Village Story Pak Nam-Choon (Democratic United Party), member of the Administration and Security Committee of the National Assembly, has compiled and released data received from the Police Office, as part of the National inspection on the Police Office on Oct. 15:
Approximately a total of 130,000 mainland police persons have been stationed in Gangjeong village between August of 2011 and the present. A budget of 4.2 billion Won (about $3.5 million USD) was spent for primarily for food, accommodations and transportation by ferry.
According to documents submitted by the police for the parliamentary inspection on October 15, a total of 194 police units have been mobilized and an average of 352 police officers per day have stationed in Gangjeong village, reaching a total of 128,402 officers
At the same time, [during the period between Jan. 2010 to Aug. 2012] , a total of 586 villagers and activists have been arrested, and among them 493 have been taken to court or put on trial.
Reference:
Jeju Sori: 지난 1년 강정에 투입된 경찰 13만명-42억원
2012.10.15 11:29:33
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People’s statement upon the National Assembly inspection on the Island government
On Oct. 15 when there was the National Assembly Administration and Security committee inspection on the Jeju Island government at the Island government hall, many people including village elders gathered in its yard to show their determination against the naval base project and to demand the Assembly thorough inspection on the Island government and revocation of the Jeju naval base project, from 9am to 5pm. Beside anti-base groups, there was also protest by a pro-base group in much small numbers. No physical conflict between them. Still the Island government bullying on the anti-base group people, did not even allow them to put a banner on the ground of yard in the beginning. However, people persisted to carry on peaceful 300 bows there. Picketing, songs, dances, and grafting went all day.
The below is an excerpt translation of people’s press conference statement read in front of the Jeju Island government hall upon the start of the National Assembly inspection on the Jeju Island government on Oct. 15. Original Korean statement can be seen here.
Photo by Cho Sung-Bong [People’s press conference statement on Oct. 15] ‘CNFK intervention, false civilian-military dual complex harbor, human rights violation: Revoke the Jeju naval base project that destroys the future of the Jeju!’
Since the Gangjeong village has been decided as the Jeju naval base project-targeted area five years six months ago, the ROK navy is enforcing construction (destruction) inputting project cost of more than 200 billion won. [..]
Two biggest issues have been disclosed in the National Assembly inspection on the government offices this time.
The one is on a clear proof that the US military has intervened in the Jeju naval base construction. As seen in the construction specifications, the CNFK (Commander of the US Navy Forces, Korea) has demanded [the ROK navy] a base design in which [US] nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and nuclear-powered submarine can enter. (*See here or here)
Not to mention that the construction cost is added with about 150 billion won due to dredging and mooring facility to fit the water depth for nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and nuclear submarine, we reconfirmed the will of the United States that wants to aggressively intervene in the conflict on the maritime order in the Northeast Asia. Our concern that the Jeju Island would be the scapegoat of the supremacy competition between China and the United States turned out to be more and more realistic.
The other point is that it has come in evidence with that the Government has glossed over as if it would build a beautiful tourism port while it builds the port, in fact, only as a military port.
Scandal is being raised with the public exposure of the meeting minutes by the technical verification committee under the Prime Minister Office, in which even a government officer’s self-scorning remark was even made public, that ‘the [government] has [originally] made the base design as a military port then is to forcibly put cruises, that is why [the committee cannot prove that that cruise works in the projected base through its simulation test]. Still the remarks by the government side that intends to enforce construction by all means without the change of base design flowed in the meeting minutes. Further it turned out that the government has enforced only construction (destruction), glossing over as if the simulation report that is not the government official but has been done by the ROK Maritime University to which the Samsung C & T has privately requested and that was done even before the formation of the technical verification committee is the report that is considered of all of the claims by the Jeju Island government (* which has constantly demanded to the central government on the Jeju civilian-military complex tour beauty where two 150,000 ton cruises are supposedly to enter, The people not only oppose the idea but think it is a nonsense) [..]
Even though the navy has stated that it would use the southern sea and large size maritime shooting range nearby the Chuja Island as a shooting training by maneuvering flotilla, the maritime and fisheries bureau of the Jeju Island government is not raising any inquiry on it. The arms that are used by maneuvering flotilla have much different quality level from the machine gun–level arms that are currently used by the Jeju Defense Headquarter. Also, what will happen in the maritime ecology of that areas called ‘golden fish bank’ in case there are torpedo and anti submarine bomb training not to mention naval bombardment training in that maritime shooting training? [..]
Also the air force is openly stating that it would drive for search and rescue air force base with the development of the new Jeju airport. [..]
Woo Keun-Min, the Island governor should have no more fantasy on the local development with the naval base construction that has been full of expedient method, law-evasiveness and illegality. [..]
The navy should not extort the sacrifice of the Jeju Island people with its concession project under the mask of so called security. It should return back to its duty for true security placing the management on the southern sea transportation route and Ieodo (Rock not island) water area to the coast guard, the proper group for such duty.
Oct. 15, 2012
The Gangjeong village Association
The Jeju Pan-Island Committee for Sop of Military Base and for Realization of Peace Island
The National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island
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Reference
http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articlePhotoView.html?idxno=162359
국회 국정감사장 앞 제주해군기지 반대 시위 전개
“국감 통해 해군기지 문제점 낱낱이 밝혀내야”
제주도청 앞 100배 시위…청원경찰과 한때 실랑이2012.10.15 11:05:21
http://www.jejudomin.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=35865
해군기지 공사중지 결단 촉구
강정마을회 등 반대단체 국감장앞 집회
2012.10.15 15:47:06
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National Assembly Woman, Jang, reports relocation of endangered species poorly done
[Oct. 12] The relocation of the habitats for the endangered species in the Jeju naval base project area was driven in a rough-and-ready method: A National Assembly woman, Jang Hana, reports.
Left: Red-foot crabs that died during the process of relocation to an alternate habitat in the Jeju naval base construction process (Jeju Domin Ilbo, Oct. 12/ Original source: Press release attachment material by Jang Hana, National Assembly woman)
Right: Red-foot crabs (Sesarma intermedium, 2nd class of the endangered wild animal/plant by the ROK government) discovered in the Jeju naval base construction area. The species has been relocated to an alternative habitat. (Headline Jeju, Oct. 12)
“[T]he relocation of the endangered species in the Jeju naval base project area was unreliably processed. In the Gangjeong village port, tens of red-foot crabs (Sesarma intermedium, 2nd class of the endangered wild animal/plant by the ROK government) were discovered dead. It is because the red-foot crabs were moved in fish traps without protection of them during the process of the relocation to an alternate habitat (* Seongwenne Creek, nearby the Gangjeong village). It has been revealed that the investigation and habitat relocation on the narrow-mouth toad has not been properly performed. Even though the website of the Jeju civilian-military complex tour beauty reads that about 900 individual numbers of the Narrow-Mouth Frog( Kaloula Borealis, 2nd class of the endangered wild animal/plant by the ROK government) have been relocated, it turned out that they were all tadpoles. There is high possibility that all the adult narrow mouth toads have been killed during the construction process and there is low possibility that the relocated tadpoles survived, too.” (Press Release by Jang Hana, National assembly woman)
The below is the translation of the press release by Jang Hana, a National Assembly woman, on Oct. 12. She attached two documents (not translated here) to the press release. They are the elaboration of her press release. Otherwise, the Korean language of this site can be seen here.
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[Press Release on the Inspection of government offices] Alternate habitats for the endangered species of the Jeju naval base project area…full of the unreliable, when applied to the US guideline.
Oct. 12, 2012
Jang Hana, National Assembly woman, says, “In South Korea, alternate habitats are an indulgence for development”
1.Jang Hana, a National Assembly woman (Democratic United Party) has submitted a report titled, ‘Analysis on the environmental contamination due to military base and independent environmental impact assessment,’ as a resource material for the National Assembly inspection of the government offices by the Environment and Labor committee of the ROK National Assembly.
2. According to the report, it was proved out that the relocation of the endangered species having been processed in the Jeju naval base construction has been in a rough-and-ready method, as a result of applying the ‘Guideline on the Relocation Plan on the Endangered Species,’ by the US department of the Interior.
3. In the report that Jang Hana, National Assembly woman, has investigated, the relocation example of Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), a worldwide endangered species, is presented. In the guideline on the relocation of Desert Tortoise, which is formed of total 7 stages, one glances elaborate concern and will on the protection of the endangered species in all the process of plan-investigation-relocation-adaptation etc.
4. According to the guideline, comparison and observation on the habitat environment between the alternate habitat and 3rd region should be done before the relocation [of species] to an alternate habitat. According to the 2nd stage in the guideline, one should choose original habitat, alternate habitat, and the 3d habitat and should observe all the three sites. Then one observes the individual numbers etc. of the Desert Tortoise in an alternate habitat and 3rd habitat to observe on the matter of success [of relocation] in the alternate habitat and catch hold of problems [on it, if any]. However, National Assembly woman Jang says, “there was no part on the comparison and observation on the 3rd habitat,’ in the service [company] report on the release of the red-foot crab (Sesarma intermedium, 2nd class of the endangered wild animal/plant by the ROK government), which was processed during the Jeju naval base project into an alternate habitat
5. There is so called evacuation investigation according to the 4th stage of the guideline, which means that all the subjected species should be relocated to an alternate habitat with no individual number left in an original habitat. It means ALL individual numbers because the original habitat would be destroyed. Further an individual with abnormality in health should get heath check and rehabilitation medical treatment that costs $ 9,000 for an individual number for five years.
6. In the 6th stage of the guideline, concrete explanations on relocation method is presented. The relocation should be done as possible as in spring, while release should be done within the range of 18~30 centigrade and safekeeping box should be moved through a clean and oxygen-enough container. The sanitary condition of the container is important, as well. Containers should be sterilized with household bleach or manufactured goods certified by the Department of the Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Also all the Desert Tortoises must make contact with water within 12 hours before their release and must be released in a protection zone of no high density.
7. The last 7th stage is on the monitoring and adaption management after relocation. In the guideline , monitoring point time and period is very elaborately presented. After the relocation to an alternative habitat, at least five years should be monitored. The monitoring should be done once within 24 hours right after release, minimum twice within two weeks’ release right after release, minimum once a week. However according to Jang, the monitoring cycle on the red-foot crabs in the alternative habitat (* Seongwenne Creek, nearby the Gangjeong village.See HERE) of the Jeju naval base project area was merely once in 6 months.
8. However, the relocation of the endangered species in the Jeju naval base project area was unreliably processed. In the Gangjeong village port, tens of red-foot crabs (Sesarma intermedium, 2nd class of the endangered wild animal/plant by the ROK government) were discovered dead. It is because the red-foot crabs were moved in fish traps without protection of them during the process of the relocation to an alternate habitat. It has been revealed that the investigation and habitat relocation on the narrow-mouth toad has not been properly performed. Even though the website of the Jeju Civilian-Military Complex Tour Beauty reads that about 900 individual numbers of the Narrow-Mouth Frog(Kaloula Borealis, 2nd class of the endangered wild animal/plant by the ROK government) have been relocated, it turned out that they were all tadpoles. There is high possibility that all the adult narrow mouth toads have been killed during the construction process and there is low possibility that the relocated tadpoles survived, too.
9. Jang Hana, National Assembly woman criticized, saying, “The alternative habitats are becoming indulgence for the big size environmental destruction. Still [relocation itself] is being processed very unreliably in a rough-and ready method. She plans to strongly demand protection measures on the endangered species in the Jeju naval base projection area during the National Assembly inspection on the government affairs.
10. Otherwise, the report submitted by Jang has been made by the Green Korea United and Endangered Species International (ESI), an IUCN member group and overseas environmental group who made joint investigation.
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See also
http://cafe.daum.net/peacekj/I51g/585
[Green Korea United] ENDANGERED SPECIES RELOCATION ASSESSMENT
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Reference
http://onethehuman.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=press&wr_id=121
[국감보도자료] 제주해군기지 대체서식지, 미국기준 적용해 보니 부실투성이 . . . .
글쓴이 : 장하나의원…
http://www.jejudomin.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=35834
해군기지 멸종위기종 서식지 이전 ‘졸속’
장하나 의원 “미국기준 적용해 봤더니 부실투성이” 지적
데스크승인 2012.10.12 18:40:45
http://www.headlinejeju.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=162168
“해군기지 대체서식지 이전 졸속…개발 면죄부에 불과해”
장하나 의원, “미국기준 적용시 부실투성이”
2012.10.12 11:00:38
